Pegula Rallies Past Navarro to Book Sabalenka US Open Rematch

What happened

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Jessica Pegula recovered from a slow start and a break down in the deciding set to defeat fellow American Emma Navarro 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the US Open quarterfinals at Arthur Ashe Stadium. The No. 3 seed advanced after two hours and 20 minutes of shifting momentum, securing another semifinal meeting with world No. 1 and two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka.

The WTA's official match page recorded Pegula winning 111 of the match's 213 points and converting five of 12 break chances. Navarro converted four of 12, but Pegula's ability to protect serve under pressure proved decisive: she saved eight of the 12 break points she faced, including six of seven in the final set.

How the comeback unfolded

Navarro, seeded 26th, struck first by taking the opening set 6-3. According to CBS Sports, she played aggressively and forced Pegula to absorb pace and extend rallies. Pegula steadied the contest in the second set, winning it 6-4 as her return pressure began to create more opportunities.

The deciding set brought another test. Pegula fell behind by a break before reclaiming control, and four of her six aces came in that final set, CBS reported. Serving at 5-3, she erased a crucial break point with a stretched forehand winner that Navarro could not reach. An error followed, and Pegula completed the victory when Navarro put a return into the net on match point.

Why it matters

The victory sends Pegula back into the closing stages of the tournament where she has produced her strongest Grand Slam results. She reached the US Open final in 2024, losing to Sabalenka, and their latest meeting will again carry direct title implications. Sabalenka reached this semifinal by surviving Linda Noskova in three sets, so both players arrive after demanding quarterfinals rather than routine wins.

For Pegula, the key positive was not simply the result but the manner of it. Navarro won the first set and repeatedly threatened her serve, yet Pegula stayed patient enough to reverse the match without abandoning the measured baseline patterns that suit her game. The official WTA statistics show that margin clearly: Pegula won 53 return points to Navarro's 42 and finished with a nine-point advantage overall.

What to watch

The semifinal will test whether Pegula can reproduce that serving resilience against Sabalenka's heavier first-strike tennis. Falling behind early, as she did against Navarro, would create a more dangerous recovery assignment. Her route to the final will likely depend on keeping Sabalenka from controlling short rallies, protecting second serves, and converting the break opportunities that emerge. After surviving an all-American quarterfinal, Pegula now has another chance to overturn the opponent who stopped her in New York's 2024 championship match.